#RecessRocksinRI Celebrates Play

Recognizing the importance of physical activity and safe , healthy and engaging play during the school day, Governor Gina Raimondo today declared October 3, 2018 as Recess Day in Rhode Island.

The gubernatorial proclamation underscores the important role physical activity plays in a child’s overall health and well-being. It also reinforces the efforts of the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition (RIHSC), Playworks New England and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) to bring the importance of recess to the forefront because of the positive cognitive, physical, emotional and social benefits.

"With this proclamation, Rhode Island continues to recognize the importance of extending high-quality play time to all children across the state in hopes of achieving healthy development for children across our state," said Governor Raimondo. "Research has shown that recess is an important component of childhood development and Rhode Island is pleased to lead the way and making recognition of recess' benefits a priority."

According to a 2009 Pediatrics study, a daily break of 15 minutes or more in the school day may play a role in improving learning, social development and health in elementary school children. Children who receive more recess are likely to learn more than those who don’t, as they experiment with creativity and imagination and learn how to interact socially. The unstructured playtime allows children to make decisions, develop rules and release energy and stress which leads to competencies in cooperation, conflict resolution, respect for rules, communication and self-regulation.

“Recess is a necessary component of the school curriculum that positively impacts not only the physical health of Rhode Island’s children, but also their social relationships and academic success,” said Kim Keck, president and CEO of BCBSRI. “The emphasis on physical fitness encourages students to develop long-term wellness habits that lead to a lifetime of staying active and a healthier Rhode Island for years to come.”

“Playworks New England is proud to partner with Blue Cross and RIHSC to reimagine the value of recess in schools,” said Jonathan Gay, executive director of Playworks New England. “Supporting Recess Day is just one way #ReccessRocksinRI aims to provide every child the opportunity to join in play and build essential social and physical skills.”

In honor of Recess Day in Rhode Island, school superintendents and Governor Raimondo urge residents to take time to learn about the importance of play during school and within the community. Providing children with recess time exposes them to physical growth and development including maintaining a healthy weight, aiding in the prevention of obesity, high blood pressure and type II diabetes.

The Council on Physical Education for Children claims that in addition to increasing physical wellness and childhood development, recess plays an essential role in the total educational experience for elementary aged children. Studies have found that students who do not participate in recess may have trouble concentrating on specific tasks in the classroom due to restlessness, being easily distracted or stressed.

“We are committed to providing students the opportunity to express both their physical and emotional energy in a safe and freeing environment,” said Dr. Patrick McGee, superintendent of Woonsocket Public Schools. “Free play allows us to educate children holistically with regular physical activity, constant communication between peers and the chance to develop life-long skills.”

Powered by Playworks, the #RecessRocksinRI initiative has now reached 55 schools across the state, serving 21,502 students. As a team, #RecessRocksinRI aims to change school culture and improve the health of children by leveraging safe, fun and healthy play at school every day.

About BCBSRI

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (bcbsri.com) is a non-profit, community-focused health plan founded in 1939 to help Rhode Islanders finance their healthcare needs. Today, that’s still a big part of what we’re all about. We are committed to improving the health and peace of mind of our nearly 400,000 members by facilitating their access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. Our goal is to improve the quality of life of our customers and of the people of Rhode Island by improving their health for generations to come. We are an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Listen to BCBSRI’s podcast, The Rhode to Health, at soundcloud.com/therhodetohealth.

About Playworks New England

Playworks New England, part of a national nonprofit, works to bring play and physical activity into elementary schools as a means to improve the health and well-being of children and to enhance learning. Through onsite direct-service coaching and training school faculty and staff, Playworks integrates physical activity and social and emotional learning skill-building into organized activities during recess to create a space where students feel included, are active, and build valuable social and emotional skills needed to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Entering its 13^th year, Playworks New England serves more than 84,500 students in 188 elementary schools across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. To date, the nonprofit has served 210,000 youth. For more information, visit: https://www.playworks.org/new-....

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